咽者，咽也。喉者，候也。咽接三脘以通胃，故以之咽物；喉通五脏以系肺，故以之候
气。
气候谷咽，皎然明白。《千金》谓喉咙主通利水谷之道，咽门主通脏腑津液神气，误也。
喉以纳气，故曰喉主天气。咽以纳食，故曰咽主地气。一阴一阳结，谓之喉痹。一阴谓
心主，一阳为三焦，二脉并络于喉，气热内结，故为喉痹。
喉风喉痹，皆由膈间素有痰涎，或因七情不节而作，火动痰上，壅塞咽喉，所以内外肿
痛，水浆不入，言语不出，可谓危且急矣。
两寸之脉，浮洪而溢者，喉痹也。脉微而伏者死。
热结咽喉，肿绕于外，且麻且痒，肿而大者，名缠喉风。缠喉风之症，先两日胸膈气紧
，出
气短促。忽然咽喉肿痛，手足厥冷，气闭不通，顷刻不治。缠喉风多属痰水，其咽喉内外皆
肿者是也。
喉痹之症，宜速用针法、吐法以救之。若悬雍垂，则不可刺破，刺则杀人。悬雍者，生
于上 ，音声之关也。脏腑伏热，上冲咽喉，则悬雍肿长下垂也。
乳蛾，俗名也。古方通谓之喉痹。以一边肿者为单蛾，两边肿者为双蛾。然双蛾易治，
单蛾则难治。
嗌痛者，咽门不能纳谷与唾，而地气闭塞也。喉痹咽痛者，咽喉俱病，天地之气并闭塞
也。盖病喉痹者，必兼咽痛，病咽痛者，不必兼喉痹也。
凡咽喉痹，不可纯用凉药，目前取效。上热未除，中寒复起，毒瓦斯乘虚入腹，胸前高肿
，上喘下泄，手足厥冷，爪甲青紫，七日后全不食，口如鱼口者死。
咽，是吞咽的通道。喉，是呼吸的门户。咽连接三脘（上脘、中脘、下脘）以通向胃，所以用它来吞咽食物；喉连通五脏以联系肺，所以用它来候察气息。
气候与谷气通过咽喉进入体内，道理清晰明白。《千金方》说喉咙主要通畅水谷的道路，咽门主要通畅脏腑的津液和神气，这是错误的。
喉用来接纳清气，所以说喉主天气。咽用来接纳食气，所以说咽主地气。手厥阴心包经与手少阳三焦经的气机郁结，称为喉痹（咽喉肿痛闭塞之病）。所谓“一阴”指手厥阴心包经，“一阳”指手少阳三焦经，这两条经脉都络属于喉，若气热在内郁结，就会形成喉痹。
喉风（以咽喉红肿疼痛、呼吸困难为特征的急症）和喉痹，都是因为膈间素有痰涎，或者因为七情（喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊）失调而发作，火热扰动痰涎上行，壅塞咽喉，导致内外肿胀疼痛，连水和浆都无法入口，言语不能发出，可以说是既危险又紧急的病证。
两手寸口的脉象，如果浮大而洪盛外溢的，是喉痹。如果脉象微弱且沉伏不起的，预后不良，主死。
热邪结聚于咽喉，肿胀蔓延至外部，并且伴有麻木和瘙痒感，肿胀严重的，名叫缠喉风（一种病情危重的喉痹）。缠喉风的症状，发病前两日胸膈部气机紧束，呼气短促。忽然出现咽喉肿痛，手足冰冷，气机闭塞不通，若不及时救治，顷刻间即可致死。缠喉风多属于痰水互结，其特点是咽喉内外全部肿胀。
治疗喉痹病症，应当迅速使用针刺法和催吐法来急救。如果悬雍垂（俗称小舌头），则不可刺破，刺破会导致死亡。悬雍垂生于口腔上部，是声音发出的关键部位。脏腑内的伏热向上冲逆冲击咽喉，就会导致悬雍垂肿胀、变长并下垂。
乳蛾（扁桃体炎），是民间俗名。古方通称为喉痹。其中一边肿胀的叫做单蛾，两边都肿胀的叫做双蛾。然而双蛾容易治疗，单蛾则难治。
嗌痛（咽门疼痛），是指咽门不能接纳谷物和唾液，这是地气闭塞的表现。喉痹伴咽痛，是指咽喉都患病，天地之气同时闭塞。大概患喉痹的人，必定兼有咽痛；但患咽痛的人，不一定兼有喉痹。
凡是咽喉痹阻，不可单纯使用寒凉药物以求眼前见效。否则上部的热邪未除，中焦的寒气又起，毒邪乘虚侵入腹部，导致胸前高高肿胀，上部气喘下部泄泻，手足冰冷，指甲青紫，七日后完全无法进食，口张如鱼口状者，主死。
The pharynx (Yan) is for swallowing. The larynx/trachea (Hou) is for monitoring breath. The pharynx connects to the three epigastric regions (San Wan: upper, middle, and lower abdomen/stomach areas) to communicate with the Stomach, thus it is used for swallowing food; the larynx/trachea connects to the Five Zang Organs to link with the Lungs, thus it is used for monitoring Qi.
Climate (air) and grain Qi enter clearly through these passages. The *Qianjin Fang* states that the throat primarily facilitates the passage of water and grain, and the pharyngeal gate primarily facilitates the flow of fluids and Shen (Spirit) from the Zang-Fu organs; this is incorrect.
The larynx/trachea receives clear Qi, hence it is said that the larynx/trachea governs Heavenly Qi. The pharynx receives food Qi, hence it is said that the pharynx governs Earthly Qi. When one Yin and one Yang meridians knot together, it is called Hou Bi (Sore Throat/Obstruction). "One Yin" refers to the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, and "one Yang" refers to the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang. These two meridians both connect to the larynx/trachea. If heat and Qi knot internally, it results in Hou Bi.
Hou Feng (Wind in the Throat) and Hou Bi both arise from phlegm-fluids previously present in the diaphragm region, or are triggered by irregularities in the Seven Emotions (Qi, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, fright). Fire stirs phlegm upward, obstructing the throat, causing internal and external swelling and pain, inability to take in water or broth, and inability to speak. This condition is indeed critical and urgent.
If the pulse at both Cun positions (wrist) is floating, surging, and overflowing, it indicates Hou Bi. If the pulse is faint and hidden/deep, it indicates death.
Heat knotting in the throat, with swelling spreading externally, accompanied by numbness and itching, and severe swelling, is named Chan Hou Feng (Coiling Wind in the Throat). The symptoms of Chan Hou Feng begin two days prior with tightness in the chest and diaphragm, and shortness of breath upon exhalation. Suddenly, the throat becomes swollen and painful, the hands and feet become cold, Qi closure occurs making breathing impossible, and if not treated immediately, death ensues within moments. Chan Hou Feng mostly belongs to phlegm-water accumulation, characterized by swelling both inside and outside the throat.
For treating Hou Bi, needle therapy and emetic methods should be used urgently to save the patient. However, the uvula (Xuan Yong Chui) must not be punctured; doing so can cause death. The uvula is located superiorly and serves as the gate for voice production. When latent heat in the Zang-Fu organs rushes upward to attack the throat, the uvula becomes swollen, elongated, and hangs down.
Ru E (Gooseberry-like tonsils), a common name, was generally referred to as Hou Bi in ancient formulas. Swelling on one side is called Dan E (Single Gooseberry), while swelling on both sides is called Shuang E (Double Gooseberry). However, Shuang E is easier to treat, whereas Dan E is difficult to treat.
Ai Tong (Pain in the Ai/pharyngeal gate) refers to the inability of the pharyngeal gate to accept grain and saliva, representing the obstruction of Earthly Qi. Hou Bi accompanied by Yan Tong (Pharyngeal Pain) means both the larynx/trachea and pharynx are diseased, indicating the simultaneous obstruction of Heavenly and Earthly Qi. Generally, patients with Hou Bi must also have Yan Tong, but patients with Yan Tong do not necessarily have Hou Bi.
In cases of any throat obstruction (Bi), one must not solely use cooling/cold-natured medicines for immediate effect. Otherwise, the heat above will not be cleared, while cold in the middle jiao will arise again. Toxic factors will enter the abdomen through the deficiency, leading to high swelling in the chest, wheezing above and diarrhea below, cold hands and feet, cyanosis of the fingernails, total inability to eat after seven days, and a mouth opening like a fish's gill; such cases indicate death.